Picture of the Honeywell RTH9580WF Smart Thermostat, displaying the Restoring Factory Default Settings screen during reset.

How to Clear Settings on Honeywell Thermostat

This piece covers how to clear settings on Honeywell thermostat.  Here, we cover how to do it on a Honeywell RTH9580WF model.  But other models with a screen work similarly At any rate, you clear thermostat settings by resetting it, which also clears lock screen passwords and screen color customizations et al. Clearing settings restores this Honeywell RTH9580WF thermostat to factory default condition.  You clear settings by following the directions next. We recommend this action when fixing thermostat issues as well.  Why?  Because wiping settings rules out the probability that wrong settings are making the RTH9580WF act weird.  The problem often disappears after a settings reset.





Remember howeverthat after reset, the RTH9580WF forgets any user added settings. So you’ll have to enter your WiFi and furnace parameters again. Also, the RTH9580WF clears all custom program schedules.  Thus, settings clearing returns the RTH9580WF to the default daily heating and cooling schedules. So again,  program these in again to fit your specific needs, if any.

Picture of the Honeywell RTH9580WF WiFi Smart Thermostat, showing the -Home- screen.
Honeywell RTH9580WF WiFi smart thermostat, showing the -Home- screen.

How to Clear Settings on Honeywell Thermostat, Before you Start

Before clearing out the thermostat, get the RTH9580WF booklet. The RTH9580WF original package includes this pamphlet.  But if you’ve lost yours, find it online at Honeywell’s web site.

Write down the program in the RTH9580WF if you’ve changed it from the default program.

Then, run through the menus. Record any settings that you’ve changed for your heating / cooling systems. These include filter-change reminders, fan mode, WiFi network data, system type, thermostat name, location, et al.

How to Clear Settings on Honeywell Thermostat, the Procedure

1. Visit the Thermostat’s the Main Menu

Tap the  Menu  button on the touch screen, as shown above at the top right side of the   Home   page. Then, scroll down by pressing the  Down  arrow key.  Then, stop at the  Preferences   button, as shown next.

Picture of the Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat, showing the -Menu- screen with -Preferences- button circled.
RTH9580WF smart thermostat, showing the -Menu- screen with -Preferences- button circled.

2. Tap the   Preferences  Button

Touching the  Preferences   button brings up the   Preferences   page.  When you see it, scroll with the down-arrow key. Then stop at the   Restore Factory Defaults   button as circled in red in the next picture.

Picture of the Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat, with the -Restore Factory Defaults- button circled.
RTH9580WF smart thermostat, Menu, Preferences, Restore Factory Defaults button circled.

3. Then, Tap the  Restore Factory Defaults  Button to Continue with How to Clear Settings on Honeywell Thermostat

Touch the  Restore Factory Defaults  item.  The RTH9580WF them prompts you to say that you indeed want to reset, and in the process, clear out the thermostat’s settings, as shown next.





4. Next, Tap the Green  Yes   Button

WARNING: Touching the  Yes   button clears all user settings and info in the thermostat. So DO NOT do this until you’ve recorded this data somewhere.  Don’t procede until you’re sure that you can set up the thermostat with your furnace / HVAC system details again. Get help from a climate control worker if unsure.

Picture of the Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat, showing the -Restore Factory Defaults- confirmation screen.
RTH9580WF smart thermostat, showing the Restore Factory Defaults confirmation screen.

Now if you clearly wish to clear all settings, tap the green  Yes  button.  Or, press the red  No  button.

Then, pressing  Yes  starts the RTH9580WF  clearing its settings.  The display shows the   Restoring Factory Default Settings   screen for some seconds, as shown next.

Picture of the Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat, showing the -Restoring Factory Default Settings- screen during settings clearing.
RTH9580WF smart thermostat, showing the Restoring Factory Default Settings screen during reset.

5. Next, the RTH9580WF Restores its Settings to Factory Default Values, Clearing the Old Settings

After  a few to ten seconds, the screen goes dark, as the RTH9580WF reboots.  Then, the boot screen, showing the Honeywell logo shows next, as seen below.
Picture of the RTH9580WF smart thermostat, showing the -Boot- screen after clearing out its settings.
RTH9580WF smart thermostat, showing the Boot screen after reset.

6. Next, the RTH9580WF Reboots Once Settings Clearing Completes as it Continues with How to Clear Settings on Honeywell Thermostat

After boot-up, the RTH9580WF gets ready for new settings input.  While it works, it shows the  Please Wait  screen as follows.

Picture of the Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat, showing the -Please Wait- screen after settings clearing.
Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat, showing the -Please Wait- screen after reset.

7. Then, the Honeywell Thermostat Goes into Setup Mode

Finally, the RTH9580WF asks for some starting data.  Why?  Because it needs this to work after reset, as shown next.

Picture of the RTH9580WF smart thermostat, showing the -Connect WiFi Network- prompt after it has cleared out all customized settings.
RTH9580WF smart thermostat, showing the Connect WiFi Network Prompt after factory default reset.

Follow the prompts to enter that data about your WiFi network and furnace system.

8. Done with How to Clear Settings on Honeywell Thermostat !

You have now cleared the settings on your Honeywell thermostat, and restored them to their factory default values.

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References for How to Clear Settings on Honeywell Thermostat

  1. What is a Programmable Thermostat? on Wikipedia

Revision History

  • 2019-05-18: Tweaked the targeting for ‘How to Clear Settings on Honeywell Thermostat’, added more related post links, and added tags.
  • 2019-02-15: Originally published.